Kelly Rutherford Files For Bankruptcy Amid Vicious Custody Battle

The ‘Gossip Girl’ actress has been trapped in a messy custody battle with her ex-husband, who has a revoked visa and lives overseas with their two children. Still fighting for her kids, Kelly has filed for bankruptcy.

Kelly Rutherford, 44, has filed for bankruptcy, according to TMZ. With growing legal bills and a shrinking paycheck, the actress has found herself more than $2 million in debt while in a custody battle with her ex-husband Daniel Giersch over the couple’s two young children.

Kelly Rutherford Files For Bankruptcy: Is Custody Battle to Blame?

Kelly Rutherford was forced to file for bankruptcy in May 2013, according to court documents obtained by TMZ. The actress claims she has assets totaling $23,937, but has $2,021,832 worth of debt. With a huge dip in her paycheck — her current monthly income is $1,279.33, as opposed to her “Gossip Girl” paycheck, $486,000 — it’s no wonder the star is struggling financially.

Kelly’s custody battle is draining the star’s wallet. With $1.5 million in legal fees and a strong desire to be reunited with her two young children, the actress will stop at nothing to bring her kids home. She has even borrowed tens of thousands of dollars from friends and family, the documents say. The lengthy, expensive custody battle seems to be a huge contributing factor to her bankruptcy filing.

Kelly’s Custody Battle With Ex-Husband Daniel Giersch

Kelly is no stranger to the court system, as the star has been in a vicious custody battle with her ex Daniel Giersch after the two split in 2009 while Kelly was pregnant with their second child. In a shocking decision in August 2012, Judge Beaudet ordered the couple’s two children, Hermes, 5, and Helena, 3, to move with their father to France after Daniel’s visa was revoked. Since Kelly’s children were taken from her, she has been fighting nonstop to have her kids return to the US, where she says they belong.

What do you think, HollywoodLifers? Are you surprised to hear that Kelly has filed for bankruptcy?